Album Review

Having a singer who can switch between hardcore screaming and melodic singing has become the standard for many metal bands of the early 21st century — and Matthew McChesney is the gentleman who lends his vocal charm to Hell Within. But while most screamer/singers usually replicate hardcore barking as their "scream" choice, death metal growling can be detected in McChesney's vocals during the heavy parts (while for the melodic bits, Scott Weiland-esque vocals come to mind at times). Hell Within's third release overall, 2007's Shadows of Vanity, sees the group break in a new drummer without missing a beat, as metal and melody crash head on throughout, especially on such tracks as "The Spiral," "Between the Dead and the Deceived," and the title track. While not the most original metal release of 2007, Shadows of Vanity shows that Hell Within can certainly hold their own against the competition on Headbangers Ball.

Biography

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '00s

Lowell, MA-based Hell Within evolved from a previous band named Twytch, which released an independent album and EP before undergoing some membership changes and deciding to adopt the new moniker at the time of their signing with Lifeforce Records. Since then, the group -- composed of vocalist Matt McChesney, guitarists Isaias Martinez and Tony Zimmerman, bassist Joe Martinez, and drummer Brian Joyce -- has issued two albums for the label, 2005's...